Why do they do it?

[klondike]

Insurance companies that is. You search. You get the best price you can. They mostly want to keep your payment details to make renewal easier  - well it is for them I suppose. You make no claims. They send their renewal and it has skyrocketed so you have to search again and annoyingly have to call them to to cancel that "easy automatic renewal".

Home insurance on this occasion £160 last year (and I would have got some cashback on it for sure because I always do on insurances). £219 this year - nearly £60 more or a 36% increase.

Hastings Direct this time but it is always the same story no matter who you go with.

[Scrumpy]

I am lazy.. I can't be arsed to even check mine out..
Rescue My Car... I have had them for years.. automatic renewal.. 
I know I am stupid.. and probably pay more then I should.. but...

[klondike]

The renewal letters now have to tell you the new and old price. It's there right in front of your eyes. 

I have always checked insurances and internet contracts when renewal comes along. Not doing so and not using a cashback site when taking them out can easily cost hundreds a year. 

[GrannyMac]

Car insurance is with Tesco.  House is Direct Line.  Both reasonable atm. If they increase by a lot I'll shop around.  Not worth the agg for a few quid.

[Alex]

I always decline automatic renewal, it doesn't take long to get new quotes.  My car insurance renewal with Aviva was almost £70 more expensive than last year.  I ended up going with Saga, same excess but so much cheaper.